Chapter 7: A Ruthless Lesson

“I—cough—I, Liu Fugui, need to swear an oath to you, you little brat?”

As Liu Fugui thought this, he immediately clammed up.

The villagers outside knew the truth—Liu Fugui had definitely taken the compensation money for Chen Dabao’s father’s death. This was already a well-known rumor in the village.

Now that Liu Fugui dared not swear an oath, if it wasn’t him, then who else could have taken it?

“Liu Fugui, since you won’t swear, then return my father’s money!” Chen Dabao said coldly.

“I don’t have any money. You’d better get lost quickly!” Liu Fugui said impatiently, looking down on Chen Dabao as nothing more than a little orphan. He tried to shoo him away like one would swat a fly.

“You damn bastard, get lost right now, do you hear me?”

Deng Hongyan snarled fiercely as she pushed Chen Dabao hard.

Chen Dabao’s eyes flashed with anger. With a swift motion, he slapped Deng Hongyan hard across the face, causing her to scream and fall heavily to the ground, stunned for a long while.

The watching villagers were shocked—Chen Dabao was truly audacious, even daring to strike the village chief’s wife. It looked like he wouldn’t be able to stay long in Peach Blossom Village.

“You little punk, you’ve gone too far, even hitting my wife!” Liu Fugui was both furious and stunned. How had this fool become so bold after recovering? Even before he wasn’t this reckless.

But in Peach Blossom Village, no one could overturn Liu Fugui’s authority.

Just then, a group of people hurried over.

“Make way, make way!”

A gang armed with sticks pushed through the crowd menacingly, storming into Liu Fugui’s yard. Seeing them, Liu Fugui’s face lit up with a smile.

The villagers watching were both angry and worried.

“The Liu family people have arrived!”

“Chen Dabao’s done for this time. He’s all alone—how can he stand against the Liu family?”

“Yeah, young people are just too impulsive. Who dares mess with Liu Fugui in Peach Blossom Village?”

“That’s right. This village is so remote, even if you call the police, they probably wouldn’t make it here in time!”

The villagers whispered among themselves, but no one dared to stand up for Chen Dabao.

If they dared oppose Liu Fugui, they wouldn’t have been bullied so harshly all these years. In this village, forget about building a new house—just putting up a toilet, fixing a courtyard wall, irrigating fields, or applying for welfare all required bribing Liu Fugui.

Otherwise, not a single brick would be laid.

But Liu Fugui ruled the village with an iron hand; no one dared provoke him.

“You little bastard, you’re truly lawless, even hitting my sister-in-law!” Liu Dafu glared fiercely at Chen Dabao, holding a sickle in hand.

“Brother, are you alright?” Li Youcai, holding a stick, hurried over, showing concern.

Liu Dafu was Liu Fugui’s cousin, and Li Youcai was his maternal cousin. Behind them followed a group of strong men and relatives from the Liu household, numbering around twenty.

These people were the foundation of Liu Fugui’s absolute control in Peach Blossom Village.

“I’m fine!” Liu Fugui, seeing his reinforcements, puffed up with pride again and pointed threateningly at Chen Dabao. “Chen Dabao, after all, I’m your uncle. My wife is your aunt. How dare you disrespect your elders and hit your aunt? Kneel down now and apologize!”

Liu Fugui planned to use this opportunity to drive Chen Dabao out of Peach Blossom Village.

Otherwise, that house, the money, and the land would have to be returned to this kid.

Unfortunately, Liu Dafu was not very efficient. Otherwise, when Chen Dabao was still foolish, they might have arranged for an ‘accident’ to get rid of him once and for all.

Since Chen Dabao came to stir up trouble and struck Deng Hongyan, offending the village chief’s dignity, Liu Fugui intended to establish his authority using Chen Dabao as an example.

To warn others in Peach Blossom Village not to be troublemakers.

“Chen Dabao, damn it, did you hear me? Kneel down and apologize to my sister-in-law!”

Li Youcai, recently beaten himself, now felt emboldened by the numbers and acted arrogantly.

“Kneel, Chen Dabao, kneel down right now!”

Liu Dafu brandished his stick and stepped forward menacingly.

In the countryside, fists often carried more weight than the law.

“Kneel down, kneel down!”

The young men of the Liu household shouted in unison.

“I’d rather kneel to your grandpa!” Chen Dabao roared suddenly, shoving Liu Dafu aside.

He charged straight at Liu Fugui and swung his palm in a wide arc, slapping Liu Fugui hard across the face.

“Smack!”

“Ah!”

Liu Fugui received a solid slap and screamed in pain as he was sent flying, rolling several times on the ground before stopping, dazed.

“Brother, are you alright?”

“You little brat, you’ve got some nerve, hitting the village chief! Everyone, get him! Beat him to death!”

Liu Dafu was furious and shocked. Seeing Chen Dabao so fierce, he immediately gave the order and stepped back.

A young man from the Liu household grabbed a firewood cleaver and charged at Chen Dabao, swinging it toward his arm.

He didn’t dare kill him, but in this remote place, injuring someone wasn’t a big deal.

Even if someone called the police, the station probably wouldn’t bother to come.

“Looking for death!”

Chen Dabao’s eyes blazed with fury. With a roar, he snatched the cleaver and kicked the young man hard in the stomach, sending him flying four or five meters.

The young man screamed in pain, spitting up sour liquid, unable to get up.

“Whoever dares make a move again will suffer the same fate!”

Chen Dabao slammed the cleaver into the concrete ground, driving it two inches deep. The handle trembled violently in his hand.

The Liu family men blinked, instinctively halting.

Wow, when did Chen Dabao turn into a martial arts master?

Seeing Chen Dabao’s impressive display, the Liu family hesitated. They were farmers used to following Liu Fugui’s lead when he bullied the weak, but when faced with a tough opponent, they were reluctant to attack.

If someone got seriously injured or killed, Liu Fugui wouldn’t take responsibility.

Even Liu Fugui’s eyes flickered with surprise as he stared at Chen Dabao.

Swallowing nervously, Liu Fugui quickly rubbed his cheeks and forced a smile. “Dabao, it’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I was joking with you!”

“Joking? Then what about the money my father left?” Chen Dabao asked coldly.

“The money’s in the village committee’s account. Tomorrow I’ll have Youcai take you to the town and transfer it to you!” Liu Fugui said immediately.

“What about my family’s land?”

“Six acres of vegetable garden, two acres of orchard, five acres of paddy field—still yours!” Liu Fugui said without hesitation.

“Brother, that land…” Li Youcai’s expression changed reluctantly.

Chen Dabao’s orchard was planted with strawberries, now in season, each acre netting over twenty to thirty thousand yuan after costs.

Li Youcai was unwilling to let it go.

But before he could speak, Liu Fugui shot him a fierce glare, forcing him to shut up.

“That’s more like it. The money my father left must be in your account within three days. Otherwise, next time I come, I won’t be so polite!”

Chen Dabao said coldly and turned to leave.